Excel Centers help make better students. The Project Excel Centers for Excellence annual report for Academic Year 2008-2009 offers statistical evidence that students who make use of the centers are more successful than those who don't. (More)

Forum to feature academic innovations. An all-campus forum scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 3 in the University Center Theater will feature Provost Peg Bacon and various faculty and staff members who participated in developing ideas for academic innovation at UCCS. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak will also provide an update on the university’s budget and processes that will be used throughout the spring.

GOCA 121 announces first exhibition:POINT A: a place to start, the first exhibition scheduled at the new UCCS downtown gallery, GOCA 121, will open with a public reception scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 5 at 121 South Tejon. (More)

Pride Event. John Miller, professor emeritus, Languages and Cultures, will provide an overview of LGBTQI advocacy and issues at the UCCS campus and the wider Colorado Springs community beginning at 7 p.m. tonight in Dwire Hall Room 121. "An Evening of Pride" is sponsored by the faculty Pride committee, the Matrix Center for Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion and the student group, Spectrum.

Event Center celebrated. Few campus events boast a live mountain lion, boisterous cheerleaders, dignitaries and opportunities for height-challenged university and student government leaders for NBA-style dunks. See a photo essay of last week’s dedication ceremonies of the Gallogly Event Center. (More)

Motorcycle conference to roar onto campus. An academic conference populated by Hell's Angels might provoke an unusual image, but that's because scholarly pursuits aren't often among the stereotypes and long-held conceptions about motorcycle enthusiasts. (More)

Author Helen Thorpe to visit. The author of a critically acclaimed book that traces the lives of four Mexican girls living in Denver will have a book signing and lead a discussion beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 3 at the University Center Theater. (More)

Angry men at Theaterworks. There are twelve of them, and they aren’t just angry. One is slow witted, another is quick and ultra logical. One is bitter, another timid, another nervous, another bigoted another more than angry, another in a hurry to get to a ballgame. They are all white, all male, and all together in a room where they must come to a unanimous verdict in a murder trial. (Angry Men PDF)

Kudos

Tom Pyszczynski, distinguished professor, Psychology, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Self and Identity. The award is presented to a researcher who has made a sustained contribution to the understanding of self and identity throughout his or her academic career.

Who’s New/Changes

Linhart to rejoin Public Safety. Steve Linhart, executive director of student support and judicial affairs, Office of the Dean of Students, will be reassigned to the Department of Public Safety effective Feb. 1. (More)

Communique is the online newsletter for UCCS faculty and staff. It is published weekly during the fall and spring semesters, monthly during the summer semester. Communique is sent to faculty and staff e-mail lists and, by request, to other e-mail addresses. Previous issues are available in the Communique Archives at www.uccs.edu/ur/communique/archives.html, and the current issue is always at www.uccs.edu/ur/communique. Suggestions and comments are welcome.
Send ideas to ur@uccs.edu or call Tom Hutton, 255-3439.